<i>From a 750mL Bottle.</i> Mostly hazy, golden straw colored body with a thick layer of fizzy ivory head. Moderate floral hop aromas leap from the glass instantly along with some musky yeast esters. Interesting yeast esters; first impressions are of some doughy, nutty bread, but as the develop, an earthy spiciness adds an additional layer of complexity and mystique. A soft, bready malt sweetness lies quietly in the background. Light bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel with a soft, yet fizzy texture. Wonderful munich and pilsner malt flavors leap out on the tongue right away. The munich malt flavors were a bit unexpected following the nose, but are a welcome surprise. Doughy bread with a green raisin melanoidin sweetness. Mid-palate, some of the yeast esters start to emerge, this time as more of an apple-pear fruity sensation rather than a musty, nutty, earthiness. Finishes dry, with a moderate hop bitterness left lingering on the palate, accenting the dryness. Wonderful beer in the way it shows off a balance of malt, hops, and belgian yeast esters. All aspects of the beer are bold enough to be exciting on their own, but the balance and interplay between the characters are what makes this wonderful.

<b>In short: </b>An original and fantastic herbal (but not spicy) small Belgian ale<br /> <b>How: </b>Bottle 330ml, consumed very fresh immediately after receiving it through private importations<br /> <b>The look: </b>Cloudy golden body topped by a small white head<br /> <b>In long: </b>Nose is fruity (orange, citrus) and herbs (green dry herbs like basil and such). Taste is soft, floral, citrus fruits, herbal, green tea, ginger, light white pepper. Far from the intensity of its little sister (Taras Boulba) the Zinnebir is not aggressive, is medium dry and has a smooth dry herbal bitterness. I got a pleasant wilderness from the yeast character although not as much as with the Taras Boulba. A refreshing tasty beer. The type of small tasty original beer I would usually praise even more but the Zinnebir problem is that it’s little sister is the Taras Boulba, a 4.5% masterpiece. And just like with two lovely sisters, the lighter one is once again the more desirable of the two.

Bottle at Andy’s place: Pours a murky golden with a thin off white head. The aroma has some bread crust-like dry Belgian malt, estery notes and some herbal Belgian hop hints. Tight carbonation with a nice dry flavor. Has a solid dryness throughout with a crackery malt base and lots of flowery/herbal peppery hops in the finish. The Euro-hop dryness is assertive but makes it very drinkable. Pretty nice stuff.

Pale orange pour without much head. Flavor is kind of skunky and old, very minerally and harsh, with a rough, bitter hoppy finish. There is a bit more yeast apparent in the aroma, somewhat bready, exceptionally dry. The miserable finish ruins this beer though. A big disappointment.

Brown bottle, 33 cl, best before January 09, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on October 30 2008; eye: amber, lightly hazy, light effervescence, large white head that turns into a tiny ring, light lacing; nose: soft nose, hops, floral (towards the medicinal), dusty, light pepper; mouth: mouth is totally different than the nose, surprising astringency right of the bat, floral (towards medicinal), dusty touch, soap, light pepper, finale in bittering hops with a good floral presence (towards medicinal), light astringency, lightly sweet and bitter, medium body, slightly grainy texture, average carbonation; overall: interesting FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 33 cl, meilleure avant janvier 09, achetée chez Dépanneur La duchesse d’Aiguillon, savourée le 29 octobre 2008; œil : ambrée, légèrement voilée, légère effervescence, mousse blanche abondante qui se transforme en un petit anneau, légère dentelle; nez : nez doux, houblon, floral (vers le médicinal), poussiéreux, léger poivre; bouche : bouche totalement différente du nez, astringence surprenante en début, floral (vers le médicinale), touche poussiéreuse, savon, léger poivre, finale en houblon astringent avec une bonne présence florale (vers le médicinale), légère astringence, légèrement sucrée et amère, corps moyen, texture légèrement granuleuse, carbonatation moyenne; en résumé : intéressante